Surface enveloper transfer winder

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for winding a continuous web into a plurality of spools. The web partially wrapping a power driven winding drum is in a nipping relationship between the winding drum and the winding web spool. A core in synchronous speed is brought into light engagement with the web and winding drum. The core is then indexed to the position where the new spool will be started. Simultaneously, a driven enveloper roll is brought into engagement with spool to keep it winding while being moved away from the winding drum. Partially wrapping the core and enveloper roll the web is ready to be severed by a power actuated knife and transferred to the core. The knife is located transversely across the moving web between the core and enveloper roll. Severing the web near the core the knife urges the leading end of the severed web to wrap the core and be carried into the nip between the core and winding drum. Without stopping or slowing down the web and without adhesives on the core, a new spool is started winding. The knife may be provided with a means, such as a brush or sponge to assist in wrapping the web against the core.

baited States Patent 91 Melead et a1;

[ SURFACE ENVELOPER TRANSFER WHNDER [75] Inventors: James J. Melead, Roscoe, 111.; Stanley C; Zink, Fulton, NY.

[73] Assignee: Beloit Corporation, Beloit, Wis. [22] Filed: Oct. 5, 1973 [21] App]. No.: 404,107

Primary E.raminerEdWard J. McCarthy Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Dirk J. Veneman; Bruce L. Samlon; Gerald A. Mathews Dec. 31, 1974 1 5 ABSTRACT Apparatus for winding a continuous web into a plurality of spools. The web partially wrapping a power driven winding drum is in a nipping relationship between the winding drum and the winding web spool. A core in synchronous speed is brought into light engagement with the web and winding drum. The core is then indexed to the position where the new spool will be started. Simultaneously, a driven enveloper roll is brought into engagement with spool to keep it winding while being moved away from the winding drum. Partially wrapping the core and enveloper roll the web is ready to be severed by a power actuated knife and transferred to the core. The knife is located transversely across the moving web between the core and enveloper roll. Severing the web near the core the knife urges the leading end of the severed web to wrap the core and be carried into the nip between the core and winding drum. Without stopping or slowing down the web and without adhesives on the core, a new spool is started winding. The knife may be provided with a means, such as a brush or sponge to assist in wrapping the web against the core.

23 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED 3.857, 524

SHEET 1 OF 5 FIG.

PATENTED DECB 1 I974 SHEET 2 UP 5 SHEET 3 OF 5 PATENTEI] (15831 I974 PAIENI 051331 m4 SHEET H (]F 5 I SURFACE ENVELOPEIR TRANSFER WINDIER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a web winding apparatus for winding a continuous web into a plurality of spools.

In particular, this invention relates to surface type winders wherein the winding spool is driven by a nipping relationship with a power driven winding drum.

Further, this invention relates to improvements in cutting and transferring the web to a new mandrel or core without stopping or slowing down the web.

With the increasing speed in present day winders, especially single drum or surface type winders, the cutting and transferring of the web from a winding spool to a new core is becoming a serious problem, especially without adhesives on the core.

The undesirable results of bias cuts across a relatively thin or thick webs on high speed winding machines are well known and need not be discussed any further. Instead, we will discuss the undesirable characteristics of winders that employ straight cutoff and transfer devices for starting the web winding on a new core.

US. Pat. No. 2,915,255 to Phelps discloses the use of a knife blade rotatably mounted on the ends of a guide roller which lifts the web off the drum prior to severing the web between the winding roll and new core. However, this requires a supplemental drive for rotating the full roll supported on the secondary arms to control the tension in the web when the full roll is retracted out of contact with the winding drum before the web is severed and started on a new core. Further, this patent discloses this use of adhesives on the new core.

Another US. Pat. No. 3,365,141 to Soloduk discloses a serrated knife pressing into the moving web severing it and causing it to start wrapping a new core which has already been prepared with adhesives. Further, the points of the serrated blade contact the surface of the winding drum, therefore, the drum surface should be hardened to prevent grooving and scratchmg.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,471,097 to Phelps shows an endless belt entrained about a pair of rollers for engaging and decelerating the winding spool as the spool leaves the winding drum. The deceleration of the spool produces slack within the web traveling between the drum and spool. An air pipe is used for forming a loop in the slack web after which the web is severed by air jets from the pipe. This method is extremely unacceptable for relatively heavy web that have a high tensile strength.

Another means for starting a web on a new core is the use of air to blow the web into the nip between the core and the winding drum. After the web makes a few wraps on the new core, the web comes into tension between the newly started core and the fully wound roll to snap the web in half. However, this method produces an undesirable spool as the first few wraps on the new a core are doubled or folded over. This method is not acceptable to high tensile strength webs, especially monofilm and composite film.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a means of winding a continuous web into a plurality of spools on a single drum or surface winder wherein the web is severed and transferred to a new core without stopping or slowing down the web and without using adhesives on the core.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for moving the winding spool out of engagement with the winding drum whereby said spool maintains surface winding methods with said means. Said means may be a driven enveloper roll selectively operable in and out of engagement with the periphery of the spool.

Another object of the invention is to provide a web severing means between the new core and the enveloper roll wherein the action of said severing means is sufficient to effectively start the web winding on the new core without an adhesive on the said core. Said severing means including a knife blade support for movement on pivotal arms may further include a means of heating said knife blade to assist in severing relatively heavy webs, such as plastic. 7

Another object of the invention is that after the web cutoff and transfer, the enveloper roll includes a movable support means for positioning the enveloper roll in surface engagement on the underside of the newly winding spool to prevent deflection of relatively small spools on relatively wide machines. The enveloper roll may remain in contact with the spool for the entire winding operation or the enveloper roll be withdrawn after the spool reaches sufficient size to be selfsupporting without deflecting in the center.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a support means on the underside of the peripheral surface of relatively small diameter cores on relatively wide machines while the enveloper roll is in a surface winding relationship with the spool. Said support means may be a rotatably mounted roll on the enveloper roll support means to allow simultaneous movement of said rolls. During operation as the enveloper roll engages the winding spool providing a space relation between the drum and spool, the support roll is in a position for receiving the new core that is being indexed from its load position to its winding position.

Still another object of the invention is that relatively small spools or relatively large spools may be continuously wound by surface winding methods.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 3

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic side elevation view of a web winding apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and showing the apparatus ina run position prior to severing the web.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic side elevation view illustrating a modified arrangement and form of a web winding apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and showing the apparatus in a run position prior to severing the web.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic side elevation view illustrating another modified arrangement and form of a web winding apparauts constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and showing the apparatus with the knife in the web cut and transfer position. I

FIG. 41 is a diagrammatic side elevation view somewhat similar to FIG. 11, but showing the web severed by the cut-off knife and showing the addition of a support roll on the underside of the new core.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic side elevation view of still another modified arrangement and form of a web winding apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and showing the apparatus with the knife in the web cut and transfer position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS It should be understood that the showing of the winder is diagrammatic and that only side of the winder is shown herein, but the supports'for the various rolls and mechanisms of the winder are at opposite sides of the winder and are substantially the same on each side, except where a roll or drum may be driven from an end which cannot be shown on'the side of the winder shown herein.

It should be understood that in FIGS. 2 through 5, illustrating a modified form in which the invention may be embodied, where the parts are the same as shown in FIG. 1, the same part numbers will'be applied to same parts as shown in FIG. 1 and a description thereof need not be repeated.

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, a surface winder constructed according to the principles of the present invention includes a driven winding drum 10 supported for rotation by end bearing blocks 11, and these bearing blocks are each supported on frames 12. The drive to the winding drum 10 may be a motor (not shown) and gear drive and may be of a form well-known to those skilled in the art and not herein shown or described since it forms no part of the present invention.

The web W traveling from a suitably source and carried overthe periphery of the winding drum 10 is wound into a spool 16 (see FIG. 1, as shown in phantom) by surface winding under tension.

The web is initially wound about a core 17 having end journals (not shown) and these end journals are each supported on bearing housings 18. During surface winding operations, the bearing housings 18 are supported on a pair of parallel spaced apart rails 14. The rails 14 are mounted horizontally on the top of spaced apart frames 12 and 13 (FIG. 1-4, rails 14 are shown broken away from frames 12 for clarity).

The secondary arms 21 may be like those shown and described in US. Pat. No. 3,614,011 dated Oct. 19, 1971 and generally include a forked upper end portion forming a cradle 20 for the spool 16 and having an upright arm with a roller 19 thereon engageable with the bearing housings 18 of the core, and pressing the spool 16 and web wound thereon into engagement with the surface of the winding drum '10.

The secondary transfer arms 21 maintain the core 17 and web wound thereon into engagement with the surface of the winder drum l0 and accommodate movement of the core 17 away from said winder drum as the web builds up on said core until the spool is built up to size. The secondary arms 21 are pivoted to the base of the apparatus on bearing supports 23 extending upwardly from the base on pivot pins 22. Fluid pressure cylinders 24 (not shown in FIG. 2) are pivoted at their head ends to, the frames 12 on pivot pins 25. Pistons (not shown) within said cylinders have piston rods 26 therefrom and extensible from said cylinders. The piston rods 26 each have connection with a secondary arm 21, as by a pivot pin 27. The cylinders 24 and piston rods 26 move the secondary arms 21 toward and from the winding drum 10 and bias the partially wound spool into engagement with the winding drum 10, to provide the drive force to build the spool up to size.

Upon completion of winding operations, the secondary arms 21 move the wound spool down the rails 14 to a core stop 15 extending upwardly from the end of said rails. Once the fully wound spool has reached a position adjacent to the core stop 15, a crane device or other lifting mechanism may be employed for removing the spool from the winding apparatus.

The primary arms 28 may be like those shown and described in US. Pat. No. 3,614,011 dated Oct. 19, 1971, pivotally mounted on each end of the winding drum 10 for pivotal movement about the axis thereof. Each primary transfer arm 28 has an inwardly opening guide (not shown) extending therealong and forming a guide for a holding jaw 29. The jaw 29 has an open recessed portion opening to the drum 10 and engageable with a bearing housing 18 for the core 17, to move said core about the axis of the drum 10 from the load position A of said core along a cam surface 30 into engagement with said winding drum and web transfer position B, as shown in FIG. 1. The holding jaw 29 is moved into engagement with the bearing housing 18 of the core 17 by operation of a piston rod (not shown) extending from a piston (not shown) within a cylinder (not shown), to move the holding jaw along its guides, to accommodate loading of the core onto said primary transfer arms and release of the core when so desired upon the horizontal rails 14. The bearing housings 18 for the core 17 form a suitable support for the core on suitable bearings contained within the bearing housings, and ride along the cam surface similar to that shown in the aforementioned US. Pat. No. 3,614,011 and incorporated herein by reference, so not shown or described further.

The primary arms 28 are rotatably mounted about the axis of the winding drum 10, similar to those shown and described in US. Pat. No. 3,614,011 dated Oct. 19, 1971 and incorporated herein by reference, and are driven by meshing spur gears 37. The spur gears may be driven by a suitable motor and gear reduction drive. The drive is such as to index the primary arms from the core load position A to the web transfer position B and then onto the rails 14 where the control of the reeling operation is continued by the secondary transfer arms 21.

As shown in FIG. 1, spaced and parallel from the winding drum 10, the enveloper roll 31 is supported at its opposite ends on end bearings (not shown) and these end bearings are each supported by spaced apart support arms 32. The support arms 32 are mounted for rotation about an axis coaxial with the axis of rotation of the winding drum 10 and spaced between the end of the winding drum 10 and the primary transfer arms 28 at each side and spaced inwardly of the rails 14. The enveloper roll support arms 32 are rotatably driven about the axis of the winding drum 10 by rack and pinion gears. Extending from each support arm 32 in the general fonn of a sector of a circle having a downwardly opening arcuate rack 33 extending therealong and meshed with the pinion 35. The pinion 35 is keyed or otherwise secured to a transverse shaft 34 joumaled on each end for bearings (not shown) and these bearings are suitably mounted on frames 12.

The shaft 34 and pinions 35 adjacent each end of said shaft are driven from the opposite side of the apparatus by a motor (not shown) and a speed reducer gearing (not shown) at a constant rate of speed, to move the support arm 32 and enveloper roll 31 thereon from its dormant position C to position D where the surface winding operation is continued by the enveloper roll 31.

It should be understood that, the support arms 32 may be pivoted about the axis of the winding drum ll) by a means (not shown), such as a fluid pressure cylinder pivotally attached to the frames 12 and having a piston therein and a piston rod extensible therefrom with the rod pivotally connected to the support arms 32, to move the enveloper to either position C or D.

Further, it should be understood that the rack 33 (FIG. 5) may be in the general form of a full circle segment for rotating the support arms 90 and the enveloper roll 31 thereon 360 about the periphery of the winding drum for which the advantage will become more apparent later on.

As shown in FIG. 1, a knife being in the form of a pair of parallel spaced apart arcuate scythe-like arms 36 having a knife blade 45 on the ends thereof and extending across the winder is provided to sever the web between the new core and the enveloper roll, and to accommodate the leading edge of the severed web to be tucked in the nip between the new core and the winding drum. The underneath surface of the knife may be provided with a suitable means, such as a sponge 70 shown in FIG. 3, or a brush (not shown), to assist in guiding the leading edge of the severed web into the said nip. The enveloping action caused by the knife has been found sufficient to effectively initiate a new web roll without an adhesive on the core. The blade 45 may also be provided with a means of heating said blade, such as electrically, to assist in severing relatively heavy webs, such as plastic.

The knife arms 36 are pivotally mounted on the inward side of each support arm 32 at pivots 44 and are movable under the action of a fluid pressure cylinder 42 to move the knife blade .4-5 from its retracted position, as shown in FIG. 1. The fluid pressure cylinders 42 are transversely pivoted to ears 43 extending downward from the support arms 32 on pivot pins 41. Pistons (not shown) within said cylinders have piston rods 40 extending therefrom and extensible from the cylinders. The piston rods 40 each have connections with ears 38 extending outwardly from knife arms 36, as by pivot pins 39.

As shown in FIG. 1, operation of the apparatus is as follows assuming that a web roll or spool 16 (shown in phantom) is being wound on a core 17 with the web W trained from a suitable source and passing over the winding drum l0 and winding up into a spool 16. Pressure is being maintained between the winding spool 16 and the drum 10 by cylinder 24 acting through arms 21.

With a new core in the load position A held by the primary arms 28 and jaw 29 against the cam surface 30, it is sometimes necessary, depending upon the type of web, size of core, and web speed, to provide a means to accelerate the newcore to web speed prior to its contact with the winding drum between the core load position A and web transfer position B. The profile of the cam surface 30 will determine the point between core position A and B where the new core will contact the periphery of the winding drum. Means to accelerate the core are well known in the art and, therefore, are not shown herein.

As the winding spool 16 reaches the desired or maximum size, the new core 17 in synchronous web speed is indexed from load position A to web transfer position B by primary transfer arm 28. Simultaneously, the support arms 32 index the enveloper roll 31 from its dormant position C to position D whereby the enveloper roll 31 engages the periphery of the winding spool 16 to move said spool away from the winding drum l0 and to maintain the surface winding of the said spool and to provide space for the core 17 to be indexed to web transfer position B. With the core in position B and the enveloper roll in position D, the apparatus is in the ready position to transfer the traveling web to a new core. The web traveling over the periphery of the winding drum is now passing through the nip between the said drum and a new core, substantially wrapping the underside of the new core the web'is trained in a generally upward direction over the periphery of the enveloper roll and into the nip between said roll and the spool with the web winding thereon. As shown in FIG. 1, the knife blade and knife arms are in their retracted position. Also, the pistons within the fluid pressure cylinder, used to activate the knife arms, are in their retracted position. A means is used to evacuate the air from the rod end of the cylinders while simultaneously supplying pressure to the other end of said cylinders to move the knife arms at a rapid speed into the cut position (see FIG. 3) where the knife severs the web and guides the leading edge of severed web into the nip between the winding drum and the new core to instantaneously start said web winding on said core. The knife and enveloper roll are then retracted to their dormant position. After the secondary arms release the wound web spool they engage the new winding spool and then the primary arms release the winding spool and return to their load position to await such time as the entire above sequence is repeated.

FIG. 2 is constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention to be especially used on existing surface winders where the gage dimensions will not permit the construction otherwise described herein. The type of construction in FIG. 2 can be. used with a minimal amount of rework to existing surface winders in the field.

FIG. 2 is substantially the same as FIG. l in construction and operation except that the support arm 32 (FIG. 1) will be replaced by the apparatus hereafter described in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 2, the enveloper roll 31 is supported at its end on end bearings (not shown) and these end bearings are each supported on spaced apart frames 55. The frames are mounted for movement on a cantilevered slide rails 53 to accommodate movement of the enveloper roll 31 toward and from the winding web spool 16. The cantilevered rails 53 are pivoted to the base of the apparatus on bearing supports 50 extending upwardly from the base on pivot pin 51. The rails 53 are supported at their opposite ends by pivotal links 58, extending downwardly to the base. The upper links 58 are pivotally mounted by pivot pins.57 to ears 56 extending from rails 53. The upper links 58 and lower links 60 are pivotally attached coaxial about the axis of pivot pin 59. The opposite ends of lower links 60 are pivoted to the base of the apparatus on bearing supports 61 extending upwardly from the base on pivot pins 62. To accommodate movement of the links, fluid pressure cylinders 65 are transversely pivoted to cars 67 extending from frames 13 on pivot pins 66. Pistons (not shown) within said cylinders have piston'rods 64 extending therefrom and extensible from said cylinders. The piston rods 64 each have connections with lower links 60, as by pivot pins 63. The cylinders 65 and pivotal links 58, 60 provide a means to pivotally raise or lower the rails 53 about pivot pins 51.

The pivotal links and cylinders provide a locking means to rigidly support the enveloper roll in the cutoff and transfer position to prevent bouncing of the enveloper roll when the knife is fired to sever the web. Further, the links and cylinders provided a second means to position the enveloper roll toward and from the winding drum. After the web cut-off and transfer, it may be necessary to lower the slide rails before retracting the enveloper roll therealong said rails so that the enveloper roll may clear the newly winding web spool to prevent entrapment of said enveloper roll by said newly winding web spool.

To accommodate movement of frame 55 and enveloper roll 31 along side rails 53, a worm gear actuators 52 are mounted on the end of each rail 53 with a cross-shaft (not shown) extending therebetween. On the opposite side of the apparatus the worm gear actuator has a journal extending outwardly coupled or otherwise secured to an air motor (not shown) to provide a means of driving said actuators 52 and said cross-shaft (not shown) therebetween. The drive may be of various well known forms so need not herein be shown or described further. Extending along slide rails 53 from the worm gear actuators 52 are a rotatable threaded shaft 54. The shaft 54 having a threaded nut 54a securely fastened to frame 55, provides a means of moving said frames therealong slide rails 53 upon rotation of said shaft by the actuators 52. It is to be understood that other means, such as air cylinders (not shown) may be provided for movement of the frames 55 along the rails 53. It is to be understood that the knife blade 45 and arm 36 are support for movement in the same manner as FIG. ll, except that the frames 55 now replace support arms 32 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and is substantially the same as FIG. 1, except that the support arms 32 (FIG. 1) are now replaced by double pivoting arms 71, 72 for which the advantages will become apparent.

The enveloper roll 31 is rotatably mounted on spaced apart arms 72. The arms 72 are pivotally hinged in the middle to the end of arms 71 by pivot pins 73. Arms 71 are pivotally movable about the axis of winding drum 10 by means previously described. The arms 72 are pivotally movable under the action of fluid pressure cylinders 76. Thecylinders 76 are transversely pivoted at their head ends to ears 78 extending outwardly from arms 71 on pivot pins 77. Pistons (not shown) within said cylinders have piston rods 75 extending therefrom and extensible from the cylinders. The piston rods 75 each have connections with connections with the end of the arms 72 opposite the enveloper roll 31, as by pivot pins 74. This arrangementprovides two directional movement of the enveloper roll 31. Arms 71 provide movement for the enveloper roll 31 about the axis 8 of the winding drum l0 and arms 72 provide movement for said roll toward and from winding drum.

It is to be understood that the knife blade 45 and arms 36 are substantially mounted and operated in the same manner as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is shown with the knife in the cut and transfer position. In operation, after severing the web, the knife is retracted to its dormant position and the enveloper roll 31 is allowed to perform additional functions if so desired. The double pivoting arms allow the enveloper roll to be retracted to engage the newly winding web spool. The enveloper may engage the periphery of the newly started spool above the horizontal axis of said spool to provide additional nip pressure along the periphery of said spool during initial winding operations to obtain a good hard center. However, the enveloper roll may engage said spool below the horizontal axis to provide support for said spool to prevent deflection in the center, especially on wide machines or newly started spools having relatively small cores.

Where the enveloper roll is supported at a fixed distance from the winding drum axis, it may be necessary to vary the distance between said drum and said roll. The double pivoting arms provide a means to vary the distance between the enveloper roll and the winding drum to accommodate movement of said enveloper roll to engage a relatively small diameter web spool to move it away from said winding drum for severing and transferring the web to a new core. FIG. 4 is constructed and operated in accordance with the principles of the invention in FIG. 1, except that a support roll 80 is positioned along the underside of the core, before severing of the web. On relatively wide machines, the support roll 80 prevents deflection of relatively small diameter cores. The support roll 80 having end bearings (not shown) and these end bearings are each supported on the enveloper roll support arms 81, so that the enveloper roll 31 and support roll 80 are simultaneously indexed from their dormant position (not shown) to their ready position, as shown in FIG. 4, to await cutting and transfer of the web to a new core by the knife, as shown. The arcuatescythe-like knife arms 82 partially encircle both the support roll 80 and the new core 17 when in the web cut andtransfer position. It should be understood that the support roll 80 may have an independent support means and means to position said support roll into contact with the new core.

As shown in FIG. 5, both the knife arms 92 and the enveloper roll support arms 90 are mounted for pivotal movement about an axis coaxial with the rotational axis of the winding drum l0 and the primary transfer arms 28. The knife arms 92 and support arms 90 are located at each end of the winding drum l0 and spaced between said drum and said primary arms, with the knife arms 92 spaced inward of the support arms 90.

With the'knife arms 92 supported independently of the enveloper roll support arms 90, the web W may be severed and transferred to a new core 17 anywhere along the periphery of the winding drum 10 from a position where the said core comes into contact with said drum from its load position, to the position where said core is placed upon the horizontal rails 14.

The knife arms 92 having a knife blade 91 on the ends thereof are pivotally mounted about the axis of the winding drum l0 and are movable under the action of fluid pressure cylinders 95. The fluid pressure cylinders 95 are pivoted at their head ends to the frames 12 on pivot pins-96. Pistons (not shown) within said cylinders have piston rods 94 extending therefrom and extensible from the cylinders. The piston rods 94 each have connections with the knife arms 92, as by pivot pins 93. The location of the cylinders or stroke of the piston within said cylinders will be determined by the position about the periphery of the winding drum where the web is severed and transferred to the new core.

In the arrangement shown in FIG. 5, the enveloper roll 31 may be indexed from its dormant position in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction about the axis of the winding drum. However, when indexing in a clockwise direction, the enveloper roll 31 must be rotated past the core load position before the primary transfer arms 28 may be loaded with a new core. When indexing in a clockwise direction, the enveloper roll 31 lifts the web W partially off the drum 10, but surface winding between the spool 16 and drum 10 is maintained until the enveloper roll 31 engages said spool to move it away from said drum 10.

The enveloper roll 31 (FIG. 1-5) may or may not be driven. The enveloper roll may not require a drive if the winding web spool has sufficient momentum to maintain surface winding under tension as the enveloper moves said spool away from the winding drum and if the travel of the enveloper roll is sufficient to take-up the slack in the web caused by the deacceleration of the winding web spool when said spool is.moved out of contact with the winding drum. The sequence of time between removing the spool from the winding drum and severing and transferring of the web to a new core and the amount of inertia the winding web spool has to maintain winding for a short time are the determining factor to whether a drive is required or not required.

However, preferably the enveloper roll 31 (FIGS. 1-5) is driven at substantially web speed, to keep the web spool winding when moving said spool away from the winding drum by the enveloper roll. A suitable means, such as a motor 99, is connected to the enveloper roll 31 through a coupling (not shown) to drive it variably about its longitudinal axis at a desired speed.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for continuously winding a web into a core; means to position said core into contact with said winding drum to receive the web to be wound into spools on the core; an enveloper roll; guide means to position said enveloper roll to engage the spool as it moves away from said winding drum while maintaining surface winding of the web between said enveloper roll and said spool; a web severing means; said severing means being positionable between said winding drum and said enveloper roll to sever said web and urge transfer of the web leading edge between said winding drum and said core to cause winding of said web about said core. 2. The apparatus constructed in accordance with claim l and further including: I

a pair of power actuated primary arms pivotally mounted about the axis of the winding drum to po- 5 claim 1 and further including:

a pair of pivotal secondary arms having fluid pressure means to move said arms into engagement with the core and the web winding thereon to maintain pressure contact between the winding web spool and the winding drum.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein:

said secondary arms maintain pressure contact between the winding web spool and the enveloper roll.

5. The apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the guide means comprises a power actuated pivotal arm which moves the enveloper roll to engage the spool and move it from contact with the winding drum while the spool is still being wound with the web. 6. The apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the guide means comprises a pair'of spaced apart arms pivoted for movement'about the axis of the winding drum and extending radially outward from said axis to support the enveloper roll at a spaced distance from the winding drum.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

said arms and enveloper roll supported thereon include a means to rotate said arms and said. enveloper roll 360 about the axis of the winding drum. 8. The apparatus constructed inaccordance with claim 1, wherein:

the guide means comprises a pair of spaced apart power actuated arms pivoted for movement about the winding drum axis, asecond arm pivoted from the opposite end of each said first arms, means to move said second arms with the enveloper rolls supported for rotation from said second arms, whereby said first arms provide movement for the enveloper roll about the axis of the winding drum at a spaced distance from said winding drum and said second arms provide movement of the enveloper roll toward and from the axis of said winding drum, wherein said enveloper roll'engages the core and web winding thereon in a nipping relationship for a hard center start of the web being wound on the newly started web spool. 9. The apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said guide-means comprises a pair of pivotal rails, an enveloper roll support means slidably mounted on said rails, means to position said enveloper roll support means therealong said rails, means to position said pivotal rails toward and from said winding drum. 10. The apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 1 and further including:

a drive means connected with said enveloper roll for a driving said enveloper roll at substantially the same speed of the web.

11. The apparatus constructed in accordance with I claim 1, wherein:

said severing meanscomprises a pair of pivotal cresa means located adjacent said knife blade and extending inwardly toward the core to urge the leading end of the severed web into contact with said core.

14. The apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 1, wherein: I

said severing means comprises a pair of spaced apart J -shaped arms pivoted for movement about the axis of the winding drum and a knife blade extending therebetween said arms to severing the web, and a fluid pressure means to activate said arms.

15. The apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said enveloper roll is located at a pre-determined position whereby the winding web spool by virtue of increasing size contacts said enveloper roll to move itself away from the winding drum while said enveloper roll maintains the surface winding of the web thereon said spool until the web is severed and transferred to a new core.

16. An apparatus for continuously winding a web into a plurality of spools comprising:

a surface winding drum;

a core;

means to position said core into contact with said winding drum to receive the web to be wound into spools on the core;

a core support means;

said support means being selectively movable into pressure engagement with the core thereby maintaining the rotational axis of said core substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the winding drum;

an enveloper roll;

guide means to position said enveloper roll to engage the spool as it moves-away from said winding drum while maintaining surface winding of the web between said enveloper roll and said spool;

a web severing means;

said severing means being positionable between said winding drum and said enveloper roll to sever said web and urge transfer of the web leading edge between said winding drum and said core to cause winding of said web about said core.

'17. The apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 16, wherein:

said core support means comprises a rotatably mounted roller being substantially the same length as the core, a roller support means movable to support said roller in a nip defining relationship with said core.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein:

said roller is supported for rotation from the enveloper roll support arms whereby said enveloper roll and said roller are simultaneously indexed into position for severing and transferring of the web to a new core by the knife.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, and further including:

a drive means connected with said roller for driving said roller at substantially the same speed of the core and the web.

20. The apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 16, wherein:

said severing means comprises a pair of spaced apart pivotal crescent shaped arms partially encircling the core support means and the core when in the web severing position and having a knife blade extending therebetween said arms, means to move said arms and knife blade about the pivotal axis of said arms to sever the web and urge the leading edge of the severed web to be transferred into the nip between said core and the winding drum.

21. A method of continuously winding a web into a plurality of web spools on a winding apparatus which includes a driven winding, a plurality of cores, an enveloper roll and a web severing means, comprising the steps of: i

a. nipping a first core against the winding drum thereby driving said core,

b. passing the web into the nip and around the first core,

0. engaging the winding web spool with the enveloper roll,

d. moving the web spool away from the winding drum and maintaining surface winding of the web about the web spool with the enveloper roll,

e. positioning a second core in contact with the winding drum with the web therebetween,

f. severing the-web between the second core and the enveloper roll,

g. transferring the leading edge of the severed web into the nip between the second core and the winding drum.

22. A method as defined in claim 21 and including:

engaging the winding web spool with the enveloper roll as the web is being wound to support the growing web spool. 

1. An apparatus for continuously winding a web into a plurality of spools comprising: a surface winding drum having a fixed rotational axis; a core; means to position said core into contact with said winding drum to receive the web to be wound into spools on the core; an enveloper roll; guide means to position said enveloper roll to engage the spool as it moves away from said winding drum while maintaining surface winding of the web between said enveloper roll and said spool; a web severing means; said severing means being positionable between said winding drum and said enveloper roll to sever said web and urge transfer of the web leading edge between said winding drum and said core to cause winding of said web about said core.
 2. The apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 1 and further including: a pair of power actuated pRimary arms pivotally mounted about the axis of the winding drum to position the core in contact with said winding drum and to accommodate movement of said core about the periphery of said winding drum.
 3. The apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 1 and further including: a pair of pivotal secondary arms having fluid pressure means to move said arms into engagement with the core and the web winding thereon to maintain pressure contact between the winding web spool and the winding drum.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein: said secondary arms maintain pressure contact between the winding web spool and the enveloper roll.
 5. The apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 1, wherein: the guide means comprises a power actuated pivotal arm which moves the enveloper roll to engage the spool and move it from contact with the winding drum while the spool is still being wound with the web.
 6. The apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 1, wherein: the guide means comprises a pair of spaced apart arms pivoted for movement about the axis of the winding drum and extending radially outward from said axis to support the enveloper roll at a spaced distance from the winding drum.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein: said arms and enveloper roll supported thereon include a means to rotate said arms and said enveloper roll 360* about the axis of the winding drum.
 8. The apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 1, wherein: the guide means comprises a pair of spaced apart power actuated arms pivoted for movement about the winding drum axis, a second arm pivoted from the opposite end of each said first arms, means to move said second arms with the enveloper rolls supported for rotation from said second arms, whereby said first arms provide movement for the enveloper roll about the axis of the winding drum at a spaced distance from said winding drum and said second arms provide movement of the enveloper roll toward and from the axis of said winding drum, wherein said enveloper roll engages the core and web winding thereon in a nipping relationship for a hard center start of the web being wound on the newly started web spool.
 9. The apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said guide means comprises a pair of pivotal rails, an enveloper roll support means slidably mounted on said rails, means to position said enveloper roll support means therealong said rails, means to position said pivotal rails toward and from said winding drum.
 10. The apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 1 and further including: a drive means connected with said enveloper roll for driving said enveloper roll at substantially the same speed of the web.
 11. The apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said severing means comprises a pair of pivotal crescent shaped arms having a knife blade extending therebetween said arms, means to move said arms and knife blade about the pivotal axis of said arms to sever the web.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein: said arms and knife blade partially encircle the core when in the web severing position whereby the action of said arms and knife blade urges the leading edge of the severed web to be transferred into the nip between said core and the winding drum.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, and further including: a means located adjacent said knife blade and extending inwardly toward the core to urge the leading end of the severed web into contact with said core.
 14. The apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said severing means comprises a pair of spaced apart J-shaped arms pivoted for movement about the axis of the winding drum and a knife blade extending therebetween said arms to severing the web, and a fluid pressure means to activate said arms.
 15. The apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said enveloper roll is located at a pre-determined position whEreby the winding web spool by virtue of increasing size contacts said enveloper roll to move itself away from the winding drum while said enveloper roll maintains the surface winding of the web thereon said spool until the web is severed and transferred to a new core.
 16. An apparatus for continuously winding a web into a plurality of spools comprising: a surface winding drum; a core; means to position said core into contact with said winding drum to receive the web to be wound into spools on the core; a core support means; said support means being selectively movable into pressure engagement with the core thereby maintaining the rotational axis of said core substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the winding drum; an enveloper roll; guide means to position said enveloper roll to engage the spool as it moves away from said winding drum while maintaining surface winding of the web between said enveloper roll and said spool; a web severing means; said severing means being positionable between said winding drum and said enveloper roll to sever said web and urge transfer of the web leading edge between said winding drum and said core to cause winding of said web about said core.
 17. The apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 16, wherein: said core support means comprises a rotatably mounted roller being substantially the same length as the core, a roller support means movable to support said roller in a nip defining relationship with said core.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein: said roller is supported for rotation from the enveloper roll support arms whereby said enveloper roll and said roller are simultaneously indexed into position for severing and transferring of the web to a new core by the knife.
 19. The apparatus of claim 17, and further including: a drive means connected with said roller for driving said roller at substantially the same speed of the core and the web.
 20. The apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 16, wherein: said severing means comprises a pair of spaced apart pivotal crescent shaped arms partially encircling the core support means and the core when in the web severing position and having a knife blade extending therebetween said arms, means to move said arms and knife blade about the pivotal axis of said arms to sever the web and urge the leading edge of the severed web to be transferred into the nip between said core and the winding drum.
 21. A method of continuously winding a web into a plurality of web spools on a winding apparatus which includes a driven winding, a plurality of cores, an enveloper roll and a web severing means, comprising the steps of: a. nipping a first core against the winding drum thereby driving said core, b. passing the web into the nip and around the first core, c. engaging the winding web spool with the enveloper roll, d. moving the web spool away from the winding drum and maintaining surface winding of the web about the web spool with the enveloper roll, e. positioning a second core in contact with the winding drum with the web therebetween, f. severing the web between the second core and the enveloper roll, g. transferring the leading edge of the severed web into the nip between the second core and the winding drum.
 22. A method as defined in claim 21 and including: starting the web wrapping a core without stopping or slowing down the speed of said web and without adhesives on said core.
 23. A method as defined in claim 21 and including: engaging the winding web spool with the enveloper roll as the web is being wound to support the growing web spool. 